(132445) Gaertner Main-belt Asteroid
Discovered on 14 April 2002 by M. Meyer at Palomar.
Christian Gaertner (1705-1782), a craftsman and merchant in Tolkewitz, Germany, was an amateur astronomer who inspired J. G. Palitzsch, the recoverer of comet 1P/Halley in 1758. In the course of popularizing astronomy he gave lessons in astronomy to the Royal Family of Saxony.Naming citation (20061109/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Gaertner is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Gaertner is 2.59 au from the Sun and 3.58 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 132445 |
| Provisional designation | 2002 GD178 |
| Orbit class | Main-belt Asteroid |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 16.8 |
| Orbital period | 3.53 years |
| Semi-major axis | 2.32 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 1.80 – 2.84 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.225 |
| Inclination | 5.78° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 0.793 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.
Also named after someone called Christian
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- (22848) Chrisharriot
- (39814) Christianlegrand
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- (55772) Loder
All asteroids named after someone called Christian